Quenching vessel



April 24, 1945.

R. M. GIBSON QUENCHING VESSEL Filed March 27, 1944 I I l I l Snventor lbson Roberf MG G'ttorneg Patented Apr. 24,l 1'945 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QUENCHING VESSEL Robert M. Gibson, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application March 27, 1944, Serial No. 528,321

3 Claims.

This invention relates to quenching devices for quenching castings, forgings or other heated arti-v cles. The quenching liquid may be of any'suitable kind butcommonly is oil.

The invention provides means to protect the articles from undue cooling while intransit to the quench tank, provides means to entrap and conduct away fumes generated in the quenching operation, and affords means to control the temperature of the quenching bath.

More important however is a dual purpose float which rests on the quenching bath, and by covermg a large part of the surface thereof affords protection to the bath between quenching'operations. The articles to be quenched are carried in a flat bottomed basket having foraminous sides and bottom. When the loaded basket is lowered upon the float, the latter first becomes effective to blind or approximately seal the bottom of the basket. Upon further lowering of the basket the quenching liquid is displaced upward around the sides of the basket and cascades into the basket through the sides and over the upper margin thereof.

In this way a much more uniform quenching effect is had, than can be had where, as is usually the case, the liquid flows upward through the tank is indicated at Min Figure 1 and a higher level caused by displacement is indicated at I5 in l5 sides l0 In its lowest positionon rod 25 the lower mar-` ll The diameter kof bell bottom. In the latter oase the liquid is heated i before it reaches the top layer of articles in the basket. By cascading it in from the sides the treatment is more nearly uniform. When the basket is lifted slightly above the float drainage from the basket occurs freely.

A preferred embodiment of the inventive concept will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view half in vertical axial section and half in plan, showing the positions assumed `ered to protect the basket while being carried by t A sealing bath I6 is retained around the upper margin of the tank by trough I1. The pipes I8 lead to any suitable exhaust system for drawing oil.' vapors and fumes.

Floating on the liquid of the bath is a body I9 of considerable buoyancy. It is cylindrical in form and is guided vertically by the inner edges of ns I3. The body or `loat I9 'is slightly larger than basket 2 I, so that the basket may seat fairly on the float.

Basket 2| is reinforced top and bottom. Its 22 and also its bottom are foraminous and quite heavily constructed. 'Ihe basket is suspended by a bail or sling 23 on a hook 24 formed at thelower end of rod 25. Slidable on rod 25 is a bell 26.

gin of bell 26 is near the level of the bottom of basket 2I, but it can slide upward far enough to expose hook 24, to permit engagement of the hook 24 with sling 23 of a loaded basket.

margin will enter bath I6 and form a gas retaining seal therewith.

Operation With bell 26 elevated, hook 2l is engaged with sling 23 of a loaded basket. The bell is then lowa crane to the tank, into which the basket is a5 lowered.

b t arts when the basket is slightly above the j y he p 40 bottom of the basket quite effectively, because of period after quenching.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the positions assumed when the basket is fully lowered.

The quench tank is shown as cylindrical and has a bottom 6, inner side wall 1, and outer side wall 8, the side walls enclosing a jacket space 9 through which a liquid medium is circulated to control the temperature of the quenching bath. The inlet and discharge connections are indicated at II and I2. i p

A plurality of vertical radial fins I3 are formed on the inner face of side wall 1. They assist heat transfer and function to center and guide the iloat and basket. .The lower level of liquid in the Shortly before the basket 2| engages float I9 `(see Fig. 1) the bell 26 will form a dip seal with bath I-S. 'I'he basket is then lowered quite rapidly forcing float I9 downward. 'I'he float closes the its own substantial buoyancy, so that the quench cascades rapidly into the "basket chilling all the contents of the basket with substantial uniformity.

The basket remains in the position of Fig. 2 until quenching is completed, and is then lifted to the position of Fig. 1 and allowed to drain. During the operation the vent pipes I8 withdraw fumes and vapor from the space within the bell 26.

While one embodimentof the invention has been described in detail, the device can be modied to meet the requirements of particular cases. Hence the described embodiment is intended merely as a means for disclosing the principle of the invention.

26 is such that its lower What is claimed is:

l. In a quenching device. the combination of a basket having foraminous bottom and sides and adapted to contain heated objects to be quenched; a liquid retaining quench tank adapted to receive the basket; and a float adapted to i'ioat on and protect the surface of the liquid, the dimensions of the basket and oat being so coordinated that when the basket is lowered upon the float and forces the same beneath the liquid, the iioat closes the bottom of the basket and causes liquid to be displaced upward around the basket and to enter the same through the sides thereof.

2. In a quenching device, the combination of a basket having foraminous bottom and sides and adapted to contain heated objects to be quenched; a liquid retaining quench tank adapted to receive the basket; a float adapted to float on and protect the surface of the liquid, the dimensions of the basket and float being so coordinated that when the basket is lowered upon the float and forces the same beneath the liquid, the float closes the bottom of the basket and causes liquid to be displaced upward around the basket and to enter the same through the sides thereof; suspending means for the basket: an enclosing bell, slidable on the simpendins means: and a fluid retaining channel associated with the tank and arranged to be entered by the margin ef the ben substantially ne the basket engages the iioat.

3. In a quenching device the combination of a basket'for carrying the articles toy be quenched; a tank for retaining quenching liquid, said tank being greater in diameter and deeper than the basket; means forming a jacket surrounding said tank and adapted for the circulation of a temperature controlling liquid therethrough; spaced heat transmitting and basket guiding means associated with the side walls of the tank, said means serving to intensify heat transfer between quench liquid and the temperature-controlling liquid, and serving also to center and vguide the basket and afford temperature controlling passages for upilow of quench liquid substantially uniformly around the perimeter of the basket; and afloat of substantial buoyancy adapted to float upon the quenching liquid in the tank, said iioat serving in the absence of the basket to protect the surface of the quench liquid, and serving when forced downward by the basket to blind the bottom of the basket and constrain displaced liquid to flow upward around the basket through the gpassages between the heat transmitting means and thence inward throughA the side walls of the basket.

4 ROBERT M. GIBSON. 

